Ripley School Board approves two-year contract

December 12, 2012

RIPLEY - The Ripley Central School District ratified a two-year contract with its teachers at a recent special meeting.

The board and the Ripley Education Association agreed on a contract that includes approximately a 3 percent increase in salaries for teachers each year, said school superintendent Karen Krause. The contract covers a time period from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014.

In the first year, teachers will receive an incremental raise depending on their position and experience. Salaries will include raises ranging from 2 to 4 percent. All other salaries, such as coaches and bus drivers, are frozen for this year, Krause said. The second year, teacher salaries will see a flat increase of 3 percent.

"We know times are tough and we wanted to be fair to the taxpayer and the teachers," Krause said. "In a few years we will know better what is going to happen in the economic climate."

Krause said the issue of job security was not discussed. Ripley is currently considering the possibility of tuitioning students to Chautauqua Lake Central School in the future, which would result in a loss of teacher positions at Ripley.

"There is nothing in writing about job security," Krause said. "We can't guarantee jobs in light of what's going in our area and in the economy."

In other business, the board rescinded a contract with Eagle Radio Technologies of Jamestown to replace and update the district's radio equipment to comply with a Federal Communication Committee mandate. The board will pursue another contract with the same company for the equipment.

The district also announced it has completed the state-mandated Annual Professional Performance Review.